LIHUE — Ofelia Serrano, wearing a red shirt with the words “Child of the Most High” in white letters, waved and held a sign as she stood along Kaumualii Highway Friday afternoon. Her voice, and the voices of all Hawaiians,
LIHUE — Ofelia Serrano, wearing a red shirt with the words “Child of the Most High” in white letters, waved and held a sign as she stood along Kaumualii Highway Friday afternoon.
Her voice, and the voices of all Hawaiians, need to be heard on the upcoming special legislative session on marriage equality, she said.
“When you talk loud, they hear you more, so here we are, speaking loud, saying what we believe,” Serrano said. “It’s important for our kids, our youth, to put a face on our faith and what we believe in. This is for the next generation. This is for their sake.”
About 20 people — including pastors, citizens and kids from various Kauai churches – rallied for two hours, holding signs and occasionally waving to passersby.
Their signs carried messages such as “Marriage Does Not Need Redefining,” “Yes to Traditional Marriage,” and “Hawaii Already Voted in 1998.”
Some drivers honked and waved back. Most just looked ahead and drove on.
Pastor Jerry Terui, taking part in the gathering, said the Legislature will actually be redefining what marriage is when it meets next month.
“We don’t think that’s proper. We think marriage should be just between a man and a woman,” he said. “That’s the way God designed it, that’s how it ought to be.”
Marriage defined
Gov. Neil Abercrombie has called both houses of the state Legislature to convene in a special session on Oct. 28 to address the issue of marriage equality.
“The decision to call a special session is based on doing what is right to create equality for all in Hawaii,” he said.
Since last June’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department have ruled that same-sex couples legally married in jurisdictions recognizing their marriages will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.
The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs announced that gay married couples will be eligible for veteran’s benefits, and the Pentagon announced that married same-sex couples will be eligible for the same health care, housing and separation benefits as married opposite-sex couples.
“My office has received many e-mails, letters and telephone calls from constituents on both sides of the marriage equality issue, and I have responded with assurance that my administration will meet our responsibilities for due diligence in consideration of all views and legal considerations,” the governor said.
A Superior Court judge in New Jersey ruled this week the state is unconstitutionally denying federal benefits to same-sex couples, and ordered New Jersey to allow gay couples the right to marry starting Oct. 21.
“Every day that the state does not allow same-sex couples to marry, plaintiffs are being harmed,” Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson wrote in a 53-page ruling.
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriages.
Like New Jersey, Hawaii has a civil unions law, but does not allow gay couples to marry.
“We applaud this court ruling, but also note that Gov. Chris Christie opposes marriage equality, so expect months and possibly years worth of appeals,” said Rep. Chris Lee, D-Hawaii, a leading advocate for marriage equality. “That’s not the case in Hawaii. Governor Abercrombie and the growing majority of people in Hawaii support eliminating discrimination that exists against gay and lesbian couples locally and we have the opportunity during the upcoming special session to provide long overdue equality to all families in Hawaii.”
Biblical view
Those who rallied Friday disagreed.
Doug Kozub, pastor New Hope Church in Lihue, said he was there to remind legislators that Hawaii voters expressed their support for traditional marriage in 1998. Nearly 70 percent of voters approved Constitutional Amendment 2, which gave the Legislature authority to “reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.”
In 2011, the Legislature legalized civil unions between same-sex couples.
Next, it will consider marriage equality legislation.
“They want to take the will of the people and put it up on their own shoulders,” he said. “That’s just wrong.”
Retired pastor Roy “Rocky” Sasaki said he is concerned about the upcoming session of legislators. He said he fears the message that people want traditional marriage is not getting through to state leaders.
“We’re praying and fasting, that God will have his way,” he said.
Pastor Darryl Kua with Westside Christian Center said as Christians, they must uphold the standards of the Bible, which makes it clear that marriage is between a man and a woman.
It is not a matter of judging or being unloving toward others, he said.
“We’re not against the individual. We cannot approve or condone the lifestyle,” Kua said. “It’s just upholding what we believe to be true.”
Liz Thompson said she emailed legislators and the governor calling on them to let the people settle the matter.
“I really wish they would at least let us vote,” she said.
